Poromechanics analysis of a flow-through permeameter with entrapped air

In a standard flow-through permeameter, a hydrostatic head is applied to one side of a sample and the flux of fluid through the sample is measured. In this paper, we apply poromechanics to calculate the evolution of the pressure distribution and the flux through the sample. We allow for negative capillary pressure in the pores at the start of the experiment (owing to self-desiccation during hydration of cement), as well as entrapped air. The time required to reach steady state flow can increase by an order of magnitude by the presence of 1 vol.% of air in the pore liquid; the delay increases as the applied pressure decreases.